Rotary mining machine cutter head with rear helically extending transverse opening



March 12, 1957 c. E. COMPTON 2,784,955

ROTARY MINING MACHINE CUTTER HEAD wrm REAR HELICALLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSE OPENING Filed April 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 12, 1957 c. E. COMPTON 2,784,955

ROTARY MINING MACHINE CUTTER HEAD WITH REAR HELICALLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSE OPENING Filed April 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Char/e515 (am 2X00 March 1957 c. E. COMPTON 2,784,955

ROTARY MINING MACHINE CUTTER HEAD WITH REAR HELICALLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSE OPENING Filed April 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r If. 4

INVENTOR Char/e5 E Compton ROTARY MINING MACHINE CUTTER HEAD WITH REAR HELICALLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSE OPENING Charles E. Compton, Shinnston, W. Va. Application April 8, 1952, Serial No. 231,085 11 Claims. ((31. 26'2--9) This invention relates to aminingmachine head which is rotatable and advanceable into a body of material to be mined to form a bore in such body of. material and remove the mined material rearwardly through the bore. Heads of the generaltype with which the present invention is concerned are disclosed in. my Patents Nos. 2,562,841 and 2,594,256.

The heads of my said patents have proved highly satisfactory for the mining of both soft and hard coal, the head of Patent No. 2,594,256 beingsuperior for hard coal mining. However, the rotational speed at which those heads may be used is definitely limited. When the rotational speed becomes great enough that considerable centrifugal force is exerted on the material being mined the material tends tooling to the inside of the head through centrifugal force, inhibiting the rearward removal of the material Withinr the head. Each head is used in conjunction with a conveyor for conveying rearwardly the material mined thereby. The conveyor may be and preferably is integral with the head, a screw or spiral conveyor being preferred, although conveyors of other types mounted in various ways may be employed. In any event, it is necessary in order to effectively remove the mined material rearwardly through the bore for the conveyor to advance relatively to the mined material in order that successively mined portions of such material may be taken one after another by the conveyor and. delivered rearwardlyout of the bore. When through centrifugal action themined ma terial within the head clings to the inside of the head it tends to advance forward with the head as the head rotates and advances and hence is not effectively taken by the conveyor. Moreover, material clinging to the inside of the head through centrifugal force tends to jam up against the working face at the forward end of the head and to clog the head and thereby greatly reduce the efficiency of the mining operation.

I have devised a mining machine head which solves the problem brought about by centrifugal action during high speed operation. I have found that if the mined material within the head is brought into engagement with the face of the bore being formed by the head the tendency of the material to cling to the inside of the head and rotate therewith is inhibited and the material is caused to be efficiently delivered to the conveyor. Since the face of the bore being formed by the head is stationary its contact with the moving material within the head serves to somewhat slow or brake the movement of the material Within the head, thus not only inhibiting its tendency to cling to the inside of the head but also permitting the conveyor which advances with the head to catch up to the thus braked material. By making provision for the material within the head'to engage the face of the bore as justexplained I can operate mining machine heads of the-type in question at speeds greatly in excess of'the speeds which are economically feasible with the heads of my said patents. Not only can the rotational speed be increasedbut the speed of forward atent C) movement or feed may also be increased, the result being an important increase in the rate of production. Likewise an increase in the quantity of material mined per horsepower input is achieved.

1 provide a mining machine head comprising rotatable and advanceable means of generally hollow cylindrical form, periphery cutting means carried by the first men tionedmeans adjacent the forward endthereof for cutting into a body of material upon rotation and advancement of the head, a rotatable and advanceable element coaxial with and of smaller transverse dimension than the first mentioned means and. facing in the-same direction, said element having innercutting means at the forward end thereof, said element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forwardendthereof providing passage space therealong of materially greater cross-sectional areathan said outwardly projecting means and said element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed bysaid inner cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby toconstitute a breaker, said first mentioned means having a transverse opening positioned to receive material broken by the breaker so thatsuchmaterial may engage the face of the bore formed by the head whereby to inhibit: clinging of the material to the' inside of said first mentioned means through centrifugal force, and a conveyor conveying the material rearwardly. The conveyor may as above mentioned be of various types either integral or non-integral with the head, an integral conveyor being preferred. 1 desirably employ a screw conveyor connected with the means of generally hollow cylindrical form torotate and advance therewith as shown in my said patents. Desirably the screw conveyor enters the rearward end of' the means of generally hollow cylindrical form and is connected withsaid'means to rotate and advance there with to convey the material rearwardly, the forward end of the screw conveyor preferably being positioned at least as far forward within said means as the rearward end of the transverse opening therein.

The transverse opening in the means of generally hollow cylindrical form preferably extends helically of said means. Such opening preferably extends to the rearward end of said means. Such opening mayhave its forward extremity rearwardly of the forward end of said means or it may extend' completely to the forward end of said means, in which case said means may take the form of separate-elements collectively of generally hollowcylindrical form. One or more than one transverse opening may be employed depending upon the size of the headtand the conditions under which the head is to be used.

I further provide a mining machine head comprising ascrew conveyor adapted to be-turned about-its axis and also advanced into aibody of material being mined and a cutter element mounted on the forward end of the screw conveyor, the cutter element having therethrough an opening extending generally helically to permit the material being mined which is within the cutter element to project transversely from the cutter element and engage the face of thebore formed in the body of material as the head rotates and advances. The screw conveyor may have generally helical bearing..means at the peripheral edge thereof and such bearing means may extend about or partially about the cutter element, the cutter element preferably being cut away between the generally helical bearing means.

I further provide a mining machine head comprising a generally cylindrical rotatable and advanceable cutter element, a central breaker substantially coaxial with the cutter element andfacing in the"- same direction, the

breaker being connected with the cutter element to rotate and advance therewith, the cutter element having a generally helical opening transversely therethrough to permit material therewithin to project transversely from the cutter element through said opening and engage the face of the bore formed in the material being mined by the head as the head rotates and advances, and a conveyor conveying the material rearwardly.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is an isomettric view of a mining machine head;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of the head shown in Figure 1 with a portion of the means of gen erally hollow cylindrical form cut away;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of the head shown in Figures 1 and 2 with portions of the means of generally hollow cylindrical form and the inner annular element cut away;

Figure 4 is a view to enlarged scale partly in axial cross section and partly in elevation of the head shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of the head as seen from the left viewing Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the outer hollow cylindrical element of the head isolated from the other components of the structure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the head comprises means of generally hollow cylindrical form designated generally by reference numeral 2. In the form shown the means 2 is a hollow steel cylinder although, as above mentioned, it is to be understood that such means may, if the transverse opening or openings thereof extends or extend to the forward end thereof, comprise a plurality of portions which are transversely separated from one another but collectively constitute means of generally hollow cylindrical form. For brevity we shall hereinafter refer to the member 2 as a cylinder.

Coaxial with the cylinder 2 is a shaft 3. The shaft is shown as being in the form of a length of steel pipe although it may assume other forms. Mounted on the shaft 3 is a double flight spiral or screw conveyor 4. The conveyor may be constructed in accordance with my copending application Serial No. 228,397, filed May 26, 1951.

The cylinder 2 is mounted on the forward end of the conveyor 4. Preferably, as shown in the drawings, the internal diameter of the cylinder 2 is such with relation to the diameter of the conveyor that the conveyor may snugly enter the rearward end of the cylinder. The forward end of the conveyor is shown as being welded to the inner surface of the cylinder at 5. The conveyor 4 does not extend completely through the cylinder 2 but terminates intermediate the forward end and the rearward end of the cylinder. The conveyor enters the cylinder to the extent necessary to obtain a strong connection between the conveyor and the cylinder. One reason for using a double flight conveyor is that such a construction affords a stronger connection between the conveyor and the cylinder for a given length of cylinder receiving the forward end of the conveyor. The forward end of the shaft 3 is shown at 6 and the double flight conveyor 4 terminates in the transverse plane of the forward end of the shaft. Thus in the form shown the conveyor extends into the cylinder about one-third or slightly more of the axial length of the cylinder. Preferably each flight of the conveyor is welded to the inte rior of the cylinder throughout the entire length of the portion of the flight which lies within the cylinder.

Mounted on the forward end of the cylinder in circumferentially spaced relation are bit holders 7 in which are held cutter bits 8, 9 and 10. The cutter bits 8 extend somewhat inwardly of the cylinder, the cutter bits 9 extend somewhat outwardly of the cylinder and the cutter bits 10 lie generally in alignment with the cylinder.

The cylinder 2 is provided with two transverse openings 11 extending helically thereof positioned to receive material within the cylinder so that such material may engage the face of the bore formed by the head whereby to inhibit clinging of the material to the inside of the cylinder through centrifugal force. The number of openings may be varied depending upon the size of the head and the conditions of use. The openings may be of various shapes although I find that openings of generally helical shape are most efficient. Desirably the pitch of the generally helical openings is the same as the pitch of the conveyor. This effectively promotes feeding of the material within the head to the forward end of the conveyor. The openings 11 are shown as having their leading ends 26 spaced somewhat rearwardly from the forward end of the cylinder 2, that being done for strength. The openings desirably although not in all cases necessarily extend to the rearward end of the cylinder. Material within the cylinder 2 which at high speeds would tend to cling to the inside of the cylinder by centrifugal force is received by the openings 11 and projects therethrough to engage the face of the bore formed by the head. Such engagement efiectively slows or brakes the material so that it does not simply cling to and rotate with the cylinder but is picked up by the conveyor.

The conveyor may have generally helical bearing means 12 at its peripheral edge. In the structure shown a square rod 13 is welded to each conveyor flight along its peripheral edge and a bearing strip 14 is welded to the rod 13. Since the conveyor is a double flight conveyor there are two rods 13 and two bearing strips 14. The rods 13 terminate at the rearward extremity of the cylinder 2 but the bearing strips 14 preferably extend forwardly and are welded to the outside of the cylinder, maintaining their normal pitch. An additional bearing strip or additional bearing strips 15 may be applied to the cylinder intermediate the bearing strips 14. I find it convenient to dispose the transverse openings 131 be tween the bearing strips 14 as shown in the 'rawings. The bearing means are not essential and may be dispensed wlth; they do, however, contribute substantially to the strength and rigidity of the head and serve to insure proper guiding of the head in the bore.

1' may and preferably do provide means for breakin or cracking the material within the cylinder 2. i have shown in the drawings an annular element 16 of gen orally hollow cylindrical form welded to the conveyor at 17 so as to be coaxial with the shaft 3 and with the cylinder 2 and to lie at least partially within the cylinder 2. The annular element 16 forms an integral part of the assembly comprising the shaft 3, conveyor 4 and cylinder 2. Mounted on the forward end of the element 16 in circumferentially spaced relation are hit holders 7' in which are held cutter bits 8, 9' and 1b. The cutter bits 8' extend somewhat inwardly of the element 16, the cutter bits 9- extend somewhat outwardly thereof and the cutter bits iii lie generally in alignment with the element. The element 16 is provided with two transverse openlugs 11 positioned to receive material within the element 16 so that such material may pass therethrough into the space outside the element 16 but within the cylinder 2. The number of openings 11 may be varied depending upon the size of the head and the conditions of use. The openings may be of various shapes.

The element 16 in the form shown in the drawings functions as an annular combination cutter element and breaker. It has welded to its outer surface means 18 providing passage space therebetween of materially greater cross-sectional area than said means and tapering in radial dimension from front to rear as shown in the element 16.

entially, ZLdjZCBHtCOIIVOIUtlOHS of the conveyor being spaced apartto provide passage -space therebetween 'of .materially greater. cross-sectional area than the rib means.

The.element 16 is'small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed-by the cutter bits-"3, 9uand 10 but is wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward endand (at the portions of the rib meansl of greatesttransverse dimension whereby the element 1-6 with-the rib means 18 thereon constitutes a breaker and a generally spiral conveyor combined. The ribs 18 may extend in various directions and their number may be increased or decreased depending upon conditions.

i The breaker 16-18 breaks the material being mined in the manner explained in my said patents, the material cracking outwardly from the breaker into pieces or lumps. Such pieces project through the transverse openings 11 in the cylinder 2 and engage the face of the bore formed by the head as above explained with the results mentioned.

I have shown a central member 19 which may be employed if desired or omitted if not desired. It has a generally conical body 20 with spiral ribs 21 welded thereto, the structure and function of the ribs 21 being analogous to the structure and function of the ribs '18. The member 19 is welded at 22. to a stub shaft23 which in turn is welded to the end 6 of the shaft 3 at 24. The member .19 has a central cutterelement 25 at its forward end.

The function of the member 19 if provided is analogous to the function of the element 16 as abovedescribed, the material broken or cracked by the member 19 passing through the openings ll' in the. element 1-6 into the annular space between the cylinder 2 and the element 16.

It is possible in some circumstances to omit both the element 16 and the member 19 although normally at least one thereof will be employed. I prefer to employ If the member19 is used its size may be varied as may its position in the direction parallel to the axis of the shaft 3. Likewise the size and position parallel tothe axis of the shaft 3 of the element 16 may be varied depending on conditions of operation.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood thatthe invention is notlimitedthereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mining machine head comprising rotatable and advanceable means of generally hollow cylindrical form, periphery cutting means carried by the first mentioned means adjacent the forward end thereof for cutting into a body of material upon rotation and advancement of the head and a rotatable and advanceable element coaxial with and of smaller transverse dimension than the first mentioned means and facing in the same direction, said element having inner cutting means at the forward end thereof, said element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space therealong of materially greater cross-sectional area than said outwardly projecting means and said element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by said inner cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a breaker, said first mentioned means having a transverse opening extending helically of said first mentioned means to the rearward end thereof positioned to receive material broken by the breaker so that such material may engage the face of the bore formed by the head whereby to inhibit clinging of the material to the inside of said first mentioned means through centrifugal force.

. the drawings. .The means :18. constitute outward-1y Lpro ecting. rib means rearwardly of the forward :end 1 oft the means adjacent the forward end thereof for cutting into a body oft-material upon rotation and advancement of. the headya rotatable andadvanceable element coaxial with and of smaller transverse dimension than the first mentioned means and facing in thesame direction, said element having inner cuttingmeans at the forward end thereof, said element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward endthereof providing passage space therealong of materially greater cross-sectional .area

than said outwardlyjprojecting means and said element being small enough at its'forward 'endto enter the "opening formed by said inner cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and .-at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a'breaker, said .first 'mentioned means having a transverse opening extending helically of said first mentioned meansto the rearward end thereof positioned to .receive material broken by the breaker so that such material may engage the face-.of the boreformed by the head whereby to in- .hibit clinging of the material to the inside of saidfirst mentioned means through centrifugal force, and a screw conveyor connectedwith said-first mentioned means to rrotate and advance therewith conveying the material r rearwardly.

3. A mining machine head comprising rotatable and advanceablemeans of generally hollow cylindrical form,

periphery cuttingmeans carried by-the-first mentioned means adjacent the forward end thereof for cut-ting into a body of rnaterial upon rotation and advancement of the head, a rotatable and advanceable element coaxial with andof smaller transverse dimension than the first mentioned means andfacing in the same direction, said element having inner cutting means at'the forward end thereof, saidelement having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space'therealong ofrmaterially greater cross-sectional area than said outwardly projecting means and said element being small enough at itsforward end to enter the opening formed" by said inner-cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at -theportion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute-a breaker, said first mentioned means having a transverse opening extending helically-of said first mentioned means to the rearward end thereof positioned to receive material .broken by the breaker so that such. material may engage the face of the bore formed bythe head whereby to'inhibit clinging of the material to the inside of said first mentioned means through centrifugal force, and a screw conveyor entering the rearward endof said first mentioned means conneeted with said first mentioned means to rotate and advance therewith conveying the material rearwardly, the forward end of the screw conveyor being positioned at least as far forward within said first mentioned means as the rearward end of the helical opening in said first mentioned means.

4. A mining machine head comprising a screw conveyor adapted to be turned about its axis and also advanced into a body of material being mined, the screw conveyor having generally helical bearing means at the vanced into a body of material being mined and a cutter element mounted on the forward end of the screw conveyor and of substantially the same diameter as the screw conveyor, the cutter element having therethrough an openiug extending generally helical'ly to the rearward end of the cutter element to permit the material being mined which is within the cutter element to project transversely from the cutter element and engage the face of the bore formed in the body of material as the head rotates and advances.

6. A mining machine head comprising a generally cylindrical rotatable and advanceable cutter element and a central breaker substantially coaxial with the cutter element and facing in the same direction, the breaker being connected with the cutter element to rotate and advance therewith, the cutter element having a generally helical opening transversely therethrough to the rearward end of the cutter element to permit material therewithin to project transversely from the cutter element through said opening and engage the face of the bore formed in the material being mined by the head as the head rotates and advances.

7. A mining machine head comprising a generally cylindrical rotatable and advanceable cutter element, a central breaker substantially coaxial with the cutter element and facing in the same direction and an annular intermediate cutter element also substantially coaxial with the first mentioned cutter element and facing in the same direction, the intermedaite cutter element having passage means therethorugb. to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of the intermediate cutter element into the space within the first mentioned cutter element, the first mentioned cutter element having a generally helical opening transversely therethrough to the rearward end of the first mentioned cutter element to permit material therewithin to project transversely therefrom through said opening to engage the face of the bore formed in the material being mined by the head as the head rotates and advances.

8. A mining machine head comprising a generally cylindrical rotatable and advanceable cutter element and an annular breaker substantially coaxial with the cutter element and facing in the same direction, the breaker having passage means therethrough to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of the breaker into the space within the cutter element, the cutter ele ment having a generally helical opening transversely therethrough to the rearward end of the cutter element to permit material therewithin to project transversely from the cutter element through said opening and engage the face of the bore formed in the material being mined by the head as the head rotates and advances.

9. A mining machine head comprising a generally cylindrical rotatable and advanceable cutter element and an annular combination cutter element and breaker substantially coaxial with the first mentioned cutter element and facing in the same direction, the annular element having passage means therethrough to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of the annular element into the space within the first mentioned cutter element, the first mentioned cutter element having a generally helical opening transversely therethrough to the rearward end of the first mentioned cutter element to permit material therewithin to project transversely from the first mentioned cutter element through said opening and engage the face of the bore formed in the material being mined by the head as the head rotates and advances.

10. A mining machine head comprising a rotatable and advanceablc hollow cylindrical cutter element having a material passage therethrough and an annular rotatable and advanccablc element substantially coaxial with and of smaller transverse dimension than said cutter element and facing in the same direction, said annular element having cutting means at the forward end thereof, said annular element having outwardly projecting means rearwardly of the forward end thereof providing passage space therealong of materially greater cross-sectional area than said outwardly projecting means and said annular element being small enough at its forward end to enter the opening formed by said cutting means but being wider than that opening rearwardly of its forward end and at the portion of said projecting means of greatest transverse dimension whereby to constitute a breaker, said annular element having passage means therethrough to permit material therewithin to pass generally transversely out of said annular element into the space within said cutter element, the cutter element having a generally helical opening through the wall thereof positioned to receive material broken by the breaker so that such material may engage the face of the bore formed by the head whereby to inhibit clinging of the material to the inside of the cutter element through centrifugal force.

11. A mining machine head comprising a rotatable and advanceable cutter element having a material passage therethrough, the cutter element having a transverse opening extending helically thereof to the rearward end thereof to permit material therewithin to project transversely from the cutter element through said opening and immediately engage the face of the bore formed in the material being mined by the head as the head rotates and advances.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,511,957 Freda Oct. 14, 1924 2,546,899 McCarthy Mar. 27, 1951 2,562,841 Compton July 31, 1951 2,575,975 Robbins Nov. 20, 1951 2,594,256 Compton Apr. 22, 1952 

